Famous science communicator Bill Nye and two North Carolina elected officials spoke about the importance of voting and climate change on campus on Oct. 19.

Bill Nye, known for his PBS show “Bill Nye the Science Guy,” is a vocal pro-science advocate. Over the past week, he has partnered with the North Carolina Democratic Party and the Harris-Walz campaign to hold rallies in North Carolina cities, including Chapel Hill, Cary and Durham.

Nye and his team made a brief stop at NC State’s Court of Carolina after the initial event planned for Talley was canceled, and was received by a strong, enthusiastic crowd.

Tyler Swanson, a member of the Wake County Board of Education representing District 9, introduced Nye with an emphasis on the importance of science in politics.

“Science is not just about learning the facts, but it’s about thinking politically and making informed decisions, something that is also at the core of our democracy,” Swanson said. “This is why voting, and elected leaders who support scientific education, is crucial. Your vote can ensure that the future generations have freedom to explore and discover in the same ways that Bill Nye has encouraged us to do.”

Climate change was the focus of the event. Nye opened his speech by citing the inaction of past presidential administrations.

“We’ve been kicking the can down the road or into the future for every four years,” Nye said. “Nothing about climate change, nothing about climate change, nothing about climate change, until this year you guys are going to, dare I say it, change the world.”

Nye said the recent consequences of Hurricane Helene were a clear example that climate change is something we must confront now.

“Carolina, a beautiful, beautiful state, had floods killing people, destroying property because the hurricane developed so fast, nobody saw it coming,” Nye said. “It wasn’t a valley. It wasn’t people in the river, on the shores of the river, banks of the river. It was on the mountainside. Climate change is affecting all of them.”

Though the event was non-partisan, attendees emphasized the importance of voting blue. Students waved signs distributed by event organizers reading “Climate Voters for Harris-Walz.” 

After Nye’s speech, Swanson said the threat that certain candidates pose in this election, both to our climate and the wider democratic system, is detrimental.

“In this election, we are literally fighting for the soul of our democracy,” Swanson said. “There are so many horrible candidates on the ballot that want to take us back, such as Mark Robinson, Donald Trump, Michele Morrow and all these others who are trying to remove the democratic values that we all value as a country.”

Nye said young voters are the deciding factor in this election. If they voted at the same rate as older voters, the question of climate change would quickly be addressed and resolved.

“If we swing North Carolina progressive to get all 16 Electoral College votes to go for Harris, then we will address climate change,” Nye said. “If we don’t, we probably won’t address climate change, and the quality of life for everybody is going to go down. The same way quality of life in Asheville and Chimney Rock has gone down very fast.”

Julie von Haefen, North Carolina state representative for District 36, gave the closing remarks for the event. She highlighted why NC Democrats were targeting young people and college campuses with their rallies. Von Haefen said her team hoped “to make [students] realize how important their voices are this year, and they can make a real difference in this election.”

Nye said raising the standard of living for women and girls is important for the future of the collective.

“What is it they say?” Nye asked the audience. “Happy women and girls, happy life.”

Despite the heavy subject matter, the attitude of the speakers and crowd was energized and hopeful.

“We’re trying to get young voters to come out and vote in this really important election,” von Haefen said. “Bill Nye is super popular with college kids, obviously, so I’m really excited to see so many out here.” 

The gathering of about 50 students had grown by the closing of Nye’s speech, with several passing students joining the crowd enthusiastically. 

“We’re going to lead the world,” Nye said. “We’re going to change the world. We’re going to address climate change. We’re going to do this, and North Carolina is going to go blue. We’re going to swing the election for Harris and Walz, and we’re going to change the world.”